People in Hattersley kept a wall of silence about wanted murder suspect Dale Cregan not just out of fear – but also out of respect and loyalty. They revealed that criminals are king on the Tameside estate with convicts welcomed home by children on the streets when they are released from prison.

People in parts of Hattersley kept a wall of silence about wanted murder suspect Dale Cregan not just out of fear – but also out of respect and loyalty.

They revealed that criminals are king in some areas of the Tameside estate with convicts welcomed home by children on the streets when they are released from prison.

Several locals made shocking claims that they knew the most wanted man in Greater Manchester was in the area and even drinking in a local pub – but said nothing to police because they were frightened of reprisals.

One resident said: "I saw him in the pub three or four weeks ago – he had one drink, met a few guys then left. I didn’t tell police because I was too scared."

A local shopkeeper, who asked not to be named, said he wasn’t surprised residents knew Cregan was in the area but didn’t turn him in.

He said: "When someone comes out of prison they get treated like a king round here.

"Kids will be crowding round them in the street. They look up to these people.

"I had my car stolen and everyone knew who it was but they wouldn’t tell me. The kids come in here swearing and trying to buy cigarettes and then their parents come and have a go at me if I refuse them because they’re under age.

"The locals told me just to get used to it. As soon as I can find somewhere else to work, I’m going to move."

Despite a huge publicity campaign by Greater Manchester Police and the offer of a £50,000 reward – no one gave information that one-eyed Cregan had been seen on the Hattersley estate.

Two local men in their 20s, who would not be named, said residents didn’t give information to the police because they didn’t want to be seen as ‘grasses’.

One said: "People have a lot of respect for people like Cregan and have known him for years – they were never going to grass him up.

"Some people might have been scared but people that knew him protected him out of loyalty.

"People stay loyal to each other around here, even if it is the police who are involved."

Another said: "People didn’t care that the police were after him. That’s what happens.

"I hadn’t seen him but I had heard he was still about in the area and some people did say they had seen him in the pub down the road.

"I don’t think people didn’t report it because they had a problem with the police, but because they didn’t necessarily think he’d done anything wrong."